How can someone go from being a chef to selling Agbo?

How can someone go from being a chef to selling Agbo? I know that this sounds unbelievable, but this is the true life story of Balikis Omobukola Yusuf, aka Opeke Balikis. Balikis Yusuf was born and raised in Osogbo, although she's originally from Eko Ende. She attended Academy of Success for both her primary and secondary education, and interestingly, most of the skills she uses today started from childhood. Her mother is a fashion designer, and from the age of 10, she started learning how to sew, but fashion was not where her business journey started. In 2018, Balikis battled a serious health condition that almost claimed her life. She was recovered with the help of natural herbs prepared by her father and his friends. And herbs was already part of her family history because her grandfather was a herbal practitioner who spent years learning different types of traditional remedies. After experiencing natural healing personally, her interest in herbs became much deeper. In 2019, Balikis relocated to the United Arab Emirates. With the cooking knowledge she already had, she secured a job as a chef in an African fine dining restaurant. Being a chef exposed her to much more than preparing meals. She learned about ingredients sourcing, food preservation, processing, and preparing spices from scratch. That experience gave her a deeper understanding of food and natural ingredients, and gradually, the chef found her way into the herbal business. While living in Dubai, Balikis started her herbal business, and one of her greatest challenges was convincing people that natural remedies could actually work, but she continued building. Starting the brand in Dubai also gave her access to customers beyond Nigerians and Africans, helping her gain international visibility. While building her business, Balikis Yusuf also continued developing herself academically. She earned a BTEC Level 5 HND in International Business Management from Westford University in Sharjah, UAE. She later obtained a BSc in International Business Management from Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. Balikis Yusuf also decided to deepen her knowledge on herbal medicine professionally. She completed a specialized training at Olaking International Holistic Medicine Company in Ikorodu, Lagos, where she became certified in herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic diseases. Her experience with ingredients, spices, preservation, and processing inspired Opeke Farms, where she produces spices and processed foods. Then recently, another skill came back into the picture, the sewing knowledge her mother taught her when she was 10. Balikis Yusuf recently launched Afro by Opeke, a ready-to-wear African fashion brand. Today, she is behind Opeke Nigeria Limited for herbal products, Opeke Farms for natural spices and processed foods, Afro by Opeke for ready-to-wear fashion. Yes, Balikis went from being a chef to selling Agbo, but her journey was never random. Her health experience connected her to herbs, being a chef gave her knowledge of food and spices, her education strengthened her business knowledge, and even the sewing skill she learned as a child eventually became useful. Her story is proof that sometimes, the things you learn at different stages of life may look unrelated until everything finally comes together. Are you familiar with Opeke brands in Oshogbo? If yes, let me know in the comment section, and don't forget to follow me for more inspiring stories like this.