Meet Tinuola Okenimkpe who started her cake business with N300

I was 19years old and just finished my OND in Computer science from Yaba College of Technology. I did my IT working in the then All States Trust Bank keying in data in the Computer room. I would spend hours and hours in the cold room keying in entries of customers financial transactions and every mistake you made could land you in trouble, big trouble. After 2 months, I had had enough. I could not comprehend typing in other people’s financial transactions when I could be out there running a business of my own. I had learnt how to bake from my mum and I was very passionate about it, holding my first piping syringe at the age of 17.

I was young but I had read a lot of motivational books and as far as I was concerned, I achieve anything I set my heart to do. I enthusiastically shared my dreams and my Pastor gave me N300 to start my business. I adopted my mum’s business name since it was registered, De-Riviera. It did not take long to realised it was a bit of a tongue-twister. I needed a name that was easy to identify with and that is how I came about DREAMTREATS.

I started out going from one office to the other, door after door asking people to buy my snacks. Meat pie, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and doughnut, I later included homemade bread for weekends only. Customers were probably more intrigued by my age, confidence and determination than even the taste of my wares. I later started catering after being given a lot of encouragement and several tearful lectures from the then Head of Training and Human Resources, Mrs. Onome Okuribido. She taught me to work hard, be consistent, not give up and to take criticism. Hard lectures at that time but lectures that I am forever grateful for now

Gradually, I moved from making snacks to making cookies and finally focusing on cakes. My first big oven was the bread bakery down the road from my house in Lagos Island. I would mix the cake with my hands at home and the walk down the road to bake it in a shared oven. I kept working hard to improve on myself and gradually I was able to buy my own equipment.

Dreamtreats started from my home and then we got our first ever outlet in Awolowo Road Ikoyi. Now in compliance with trends and evolving technology, we have now moved even closer to you with our online store Cakes@aClick by Dreamtreats. Just a click and we deliver right at your doorstep.