From a Simple Prayer to a Thriving Brand
Sometimes, the most beautiful businesses begin with a simple idea, a heartfelt prayer, and the courage to start.
This edition of Passion to Profession is particularly special to me because the founder of Naija Treats, Bola Lasisi, is more than just a business owner I admire — she is my childhood friend. I have known her since we were little girls with no care in the world, sharing memories through different seasons of life. From the fun teenage and young adult years filled with parties, studying, laughter, and endless conversations, we gradually journeyed together into adulthood, careers, marriage, motherhood, and the many responsibilities life brings.
Welcome to Bola’s Sweet Story — a journey of faith, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the beautiful rewards of daring to turn passion into purpose.
The Woman Behind the Sweet Success
Bola is a management accountant turned entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Naija Treats Limited. After working for many years as a management accountant, she made the bold decision to step into entrepreneurship and launched Naija Treats in 2019. Her decision was largely motivated by a desire for a more suitable work-life balance while building something meaningful for herself and her family.
Over the years, I have had a front-row seat to Bola’s incredible journey, and watching what she has built with Naija Treats while juggling motherhood and life’s many demands has been nothing short of phenomenal. What started with a dream, deep faith in God, and sheer determination has grown into a thriving brand that beautifully celebrates Nigerian culture through food.
In this honest and inspiring conversation, Bola shares the heart behind Naija Treats, the realities of building a business, the challenges behind the scenes, the lessons she has learned, and the vision she carries for the future.
If you have ever dreamed of turning your passion into something meaningful, I hope her story encourages you to start — even if all you have right now is faith, determination, and a small beginning.
Bola’s Sweet Story 🍫🍬
Tell us how Naija Treats began. Was there a defining moment that inspired the business?
The inspiration came from God. I remember speaking to my mum about wanting to start a business, but I had no idea what direction to take. She encouraged me to pray about it, and my one prayer point was simple: “God, please give me an idea that will sell.” After weeks of praying, the idea to start making and selling treats came to me, and that was the beginning of Naija Treats.
Many successful businesses start as hobbies, but was that the case for you?
Not really. To be honest, Naija Treats was never just a hobby for me. From the beginning, I saw it as a business. However, I knew I was ready to properly introduce it to the market after receiving positive feedback from friends and family who participated in the tasting process.
What do you remember most about those early days?
Those days were a mix of excitement and nervousness. I genuinely enjoyed making the snacks, and having the support and encouragement of my close circle meant a lot to me.
At what point did you realise Naija Treats could become something much bigger?
Once the orders from friends, acquaintances, and referrals became consistent, I knew it was time to take the business seriously and formalise it properly by registering the company.
Was there a particular order or experience that felt like a breakthrough moment?
Yes — during Covid, I received a large order for a Zoom party. That order was a major turning point for me because it confirmed that there was truly a market for what I was creating.
Growing the Brand
How did you transition from producing small batches to catering for larger events?
It happened gradually. I started scaling up production little by little and invested in better equipment, which helped me handle larger orders while still maintaining quality.
Naija Treats has grown online as well. How important has digital presence been for the brand?
Social media played a huge role in helping us grow. I actually started the business with an Instagram page, and over time I realised we needed a stronger online presence, so we launched a website to make ordering easier for customers.
What would you say contributed most to your customer growth?
Attending events, collaborating with other businesses, and providing excellent customer service really helped us grow our customer base.
The Reality Behind the Business
Running a food business often looks glamorous online, but what are some of the realities people don’t see?
People don’t always see the amount of work happening behind the scenes — sourcing ingredients, managing finances, staffing, marketing, packaging, and handling operations daily.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on?
One major challenge was managing my time effectively between making the snacks, marketing the business, and fulfilling orders.
Were there moments you felt like giving up?
Absolutely. There have definitely been difficult days. In fact, I felt like giving up only a few days ago. But my passion for building a successful brand, combined with the support of my family, keeps me going.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
What’s one important lesson entrepreneurship has taught you?
I underestimated the amount of time, effort, and financial commitment required to scale a business. That experience taught me the importance of proper planning and setting realistic timelines.
What mindset shift helped you evolve from simply making snacks to truly running a business?
Recognising that my passion deserved to be treated like a legitimate business rather than “just baking” was a major shift for me.
Passion, Culture & Purpose
One thing people love about Naija Treats is how proudly it represents Nigerian culture. How important is that to you?
It’s extremely important to me. I want Naija Treats to celebrate and share the richness of Nigerian culture through food.
Do you have a personal favourite snack to make?
Definitely chin-chin. It brings back fond childhood memories for me, and it also happens to be our bestselling snack.
Customers often assume some snacks are imported. What would surprise people most about your process?
Everything is freshly made by us. For example, every coconut used in our coconut candy is freshly cracked and shelled by hand. We don’t import our snacks from Nigeria.
Looking Ahead
What does success look like for you today?
Success now means building a brand that outlives me — something I can eventually pass on to my children.
Where do you see Naija Treats in the next few years?
I would love to expand our product line, open more physical locations, serve even more customers, and collaborate with larger corporations.
And if you could speak to the version of yourself who was just starting out, what would you say?
I would tell myself to stay patient, trust God, get help because you cannot do it alone, and never underestimate the power of perseverance.
Quick Fire with Bola
Chin-chin or puff-puff?
Puff-puff.
Sweet or savoury snacks?
Sweet.
Cooking alone or with a team?
Cooking alone.
Coffee, tea, or zobo on a busy day?
Coffee.
If you weren’t running Naija Treats, what would you be doing?
I’d probably still be working as an accountant.
Dream collaboration for Naija Treats?
Collaborating with an airline like British Airways and having our snacks served on flights.
Which Nigerian snack best describes you?
Puff-puff — soft, sweet, and guaranteed to make people smile.
A Final Sweet Thought from Aunty Lulu
Stories like Bola’s are such a beautiful reminder that purpose often begins in the smallest ways — a prayer, an idea, a kitchen experiment, a dream that refuses to go away.
Watching Naija Treats grow over the years has been has been such a joy to witness. Beyond the delicious snacks and growing brand is a woman who has continued to show up with faith, resilience, grace, and determination through every season of life.
It has also been inspiring, but even more inspiring is the woman behind the brand — hardworking, and determined to build something meaningful while balancing every other role life demands.
For anyone sitting on an idea, waiting for the “perfect time” to begin, let this be your reminder: sometimes you simply have to start with what you have, trust God with the process, and keep showing up consistently.
And who knows? One day your little idea may end up on British Airways too. ✨
Until next time, keep dreaming, keep building, and if you’re reading this with a cup of tea and a craving for puff-puff… honestly, same here, please don’t stop believing in small beginnings…
Aunty Lulu
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Truly all dreams are valid!!! And I can’t wait to have Naija Treats onboard BA.
That makes two of us ☺️, thanks for stopping by Tinu