When Yusuf Balikis Omobukola left Nigeria for Dubai in 2019 with only N37,000 in her pocket, her dreams seemed far bigger than her resources. Today, at just 31, she is the founder and CEO of Opeke Farms Nigeria Limited, a company whose herbal remedies, food products, and fashion line reach customers in over 60 countries.
Her journey is one of sheer resilience, reinvention, and an unshakable belief that no circumstance is permanent.
Survival in Dubai: From Cooking to Accommodation Business
Arriving in the UAE with little money, Balikis leaned on a friend for shelter while searching for work. But soon, she began cooking Nigerian meals for expatriates—an idea sparked by a family friend who loved her food. That side hustle blossomed into a small business, plating jollof and fried rice for delivery across the city.
Her entrepreneurial streak didn’t stop there. With a little capital gifted by an acquaintance who admired her honesty, she rented a room, furnished it with bunk beds, and started an accommodation business. It was the first of many ventures that would pave the way for her future.
A Prophecy Fulfilled in the Kitchen
Though initially reluctant, Balikis applied for a chef position in Sharjah. To her surprise, her Nigerian dishes outshone every other candidate’s. Within months, she rose from Commis 1 to Sous-Chef, cooking for elite clients, including members of the royal family. But the grueling schedule—sometimes catering for 1,000 people at a time—took its toll. Despite multiple promotions and pay raises, she eventually resigned, convinced her destiny lay elsewhere.
Turning Pain into a Herbal Empire
Balikis’ breakthrough came from personal pain. Suffering from piles during the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned to traditional Nigerian remedies sent from home. When she shared them with colleagues, the demand was instant. What began as a small side hustle quickly evolved into Opeke Herbal Remedies, producing detox formulas, fertility boosters, and natural health solutions sourced from Nigeria, India, Morocco, and beyond.
Even when diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the UAE disrupted her supply chain, she innovated—sourcing herbs locally in Dubai and expanding her product range.
Beyond Herbs: Fashion and Packaged Foods
While herbs remain her signature, Balikis never abandoned her early skills. A tailor since childhood, she launched a ready-to-wear fashion line and later tapped into her five years of professional kitchen experience by creating healthy, packaged Nigerian foods.
Her philosophy is simple: “Food is your first medicine. What you eat can either heal you or destroy you.”
Global Footprint, Local Skepticism
Ironically, while her products are celebrated abroad—in Dubai, the UK, Canada, and the US—she notes that Nigerians remain slower to embrace herbal remedies. Yet, her brand has thrived, with clients across continents and strong local demand in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
The Burden of Being a Woman Entrepreneur
Balikis admits her gender often complicates her work. Selling products for fertility or sexual health draws unfair judgment. “They see a woman marketing sexual wellness and assume promiscuity. But the same critics are the ones secretly looking for solutions,” she says with a laugh.
Lessons in Grit
For women struggling with unemployment, her advice is blunt but empowering: “Nobody is coming to save you. You are your own savior. Learn a skill, start small, and keep building.”
Despite her success, she remains a student—having recently graduated in International Business Management and currently studying naturopathy and chronic health issues.
Her vision for Opeke Farm is clear: to prove that nature carries the cure and to build a business that intertwines wellness, food, and fashion into a lifestyle of health and empowerment.
