One on one with Entrepreneurs

Welcome to this week’s edition of One on one with Entrepreneurs. 

One on one with Entrepreneurs is our blog initiative to showcase talent, hard-work, skills and success of entrepreneurs out there. 

Today we have the opportunity to meet a very influential Cyprus based Nigerian Entrepreneur who is doing a great work with what he knows how to do best and she's got a whole lot of things to share with us. 

Can we meet you? 

(Lafs).. My name is Patience Idoga, a lecturer with one of the universities in Nigeria; presently rounding up my PhD programs in one of the universities on the Island and also the brain behind fingers pastries.

It seems you are so much into academics so how come fingers pastries? 

I have always had a flare for cooking all my life: let’s just say cooking is a hobby for me just like traveling or soccer is for others.

Tell us about it. 

Getting to this Island in 2013, the first challenge I faced on arrival was that of a good home cooked Nigerian meal; I had to go all the way to a restaurant at city center then to eat: reason been that their food look and taste similar to Nigerian white rice and stew. This I did for close to a month but as ‘I see say money don de finish from pocket’, I had to come up with a plan in order to continue having a taste of home: so I opted to start cooking for friends who were leaving off campus for free.

While doing this, their friends who come for visit and tasted the meals started asking about who made the meals and that is how recommendations started coming in and I started cooking for people from house to house including parties.

So how come pastries? 

While this was in progress, I felt the need to upgrade into pastries too (e.g. cake baking, egg rolls, meat pies, sausage rolls, etc.) so I started watching videos on those and taught myself how to make them. In a short while, I discovered I was becoming a pro (laughs..) and so I incorporated it into my line of services. So basically, that is how fingers pastries was birthed.

Wow. Interesting! So why doing this, have you faced any challenges so far and how did you overcome them? 

Every business comes with its own challenges. Initially, the first challenge I faced was how to balance it with my studies. Like for instance, I may have a two hour class that starts by 4pm to 5pm and at same time, a client will require my presence: But gradually, I learnt how to manage my time effectively. Another challenge I faced then which I think is the only major challenge was sourcing for the right ingredients that I need. There is this popular saying I hear people say: “when the desirable is not available, the available becomes the desirable” so that is exactly what I did. I used the locally available ingredients and replicated them into what I want. But I think this is no longer a challenge since most markets in Cyprus now sell African foods products.

What are your achievements so far? 

So far it has been worth it and God has been faithful. Today, the reason for starting the business in the first place has been achieved as I get to eat any Nigerian meal I desire anytime irrespective of my location.

Secondly, I have had the privileges of cooking for God’s generals in conferences, baking pastries for birthdays/ anniversaries, organizing and managing client’s business meetings and parties which has made me to meet and relate with people that ordinary on a very good day I wouldn’t talk to. It has changed me from that quiet indoor person to an outspoken outdoor person sort of. So to me, this is a great mile stone.

What has been your motivation considering your environment? 

My motivation has always come from Zachariah 4:10 (Do not despise the days of little beginnings for the Lord rejoice to see the work begin).

Where do you see fingers in the next 10 years? 

Am trusting God that in the shortest time possible, fingers will be a well-known name in every household when it comes to any pastries and traditional proper Nigerian staples just like the likes of Mama Cas, Jevinik, Panache etc.

 

Do you have any word for our viewers? 

My advice to people who want to start a business on the Island is never to procrastinate. Just start! Every other thing will sort itself out in due time. Secondly, don’t be bordered about what people say or think of you: because if you do, you will never start in the first place.

Social media contacts:
Email: patbeaut@yahoo.com 
Whatsapp: +2349053468905 
Facebook: fingers pastries 
Instagram: fingers pastries