Inspiration Thursdays: Modupe Megbope The Moin-Moin Seller

Today we are bringing it home, one of our very own – Ayodeji Megbope the founder of No left Over Nigeria Plc.

The first time I heard about Modupe was when I went for an event where a speaker spoke about a woman that was called to make Moin-Moin in the white house. I didn’t take note of the name just the story.

Then a friend of mine shared her Facebook post which I was lucky to have stumbled on (this is the reason why the kind of Facebook friends you have matter). I read through what she had posted I still didn’t know she was the Moin-Moin seller, I decided to add her on Facebook as I saw her as someone to learn a lot from and another thing that endeared her to my heart was her acknowledgment of God in most if not all her posts. If not God who else? Moin-Moin! White House? 

After combing her wall I finally linked her to the Moin-Moin seller every motivational speaker was quick to speak about. Since then I looked forward to reading every of her posts on Facebook. Call me a stalker I don’t care.

Why is Modupe so spectacular?

Modupe’s story is one that has inspired people globally most especially women. She started her moi-moi business with only 1000 naira and through this platform, she has helped thousand of others by flying to various countries to speak.

She started her business with cooking for her sister-in-law who was a busy career woman. Her sister-in-law paid them a visit on the day when she had just finished cooking Moin-Moin. Her sister-in-law insisted she includes Moin-Moin into the menu after tasting Modupe’s delicious Moin-Moin. She also sold to family, close friends, and associates. Afterward, she went back to Corona where she had once worked and hawked her Moin-Moin there.

Her business took a turn around when Goldman Sachs a United States Organization in collaboration with Enterprise Development Center of the Pan-African University organized a 10,000 women program for 5 months. It was after this program that Modupe felt energized and equipped with all the necessary information to run her business.

Her company slowly grew from just making Moin-Moin (Bean cake) to a full catering outfit but she was still widely recognized for her Moin-Moin. The money made from the Moin-Moin section of her business single-handedly pays the monthly salary of her staff.

After the Goldman Sachs program, she made enough money from her business to get her own delivery vehicle, she also expanded from her home to her office space and employed more staffs. Modupe’s company turns in millions naira each year.

Lessons to learn from Modupe;

Start with what you have

I always say small is relative. One thousand naira may be a large capital to someone and may be a very small capital to another. Modupe was training to start a playgroup but along the line, she lost the interest and was forced to look inwards. Start with what you have in your hands.

Are your thoughts more like – “How can I a graduate of Petroleum Engineering and go into fashion designing?” Or “That job is totally beneath me”…Well not everyone is created for a white collar job. For me, I will say be exactly where you are supposed to be.

Have a plan

Modupe always iterates the need for businesses irrespective of how small they are to have a business plan. That was one of the things that she learned after the Goldmans Sach program. She decided to have a structure for her business.

Be Financially Literate

To run a business you have to be conscious of your finances. Separate personal account from the business account. When she finished her program she immediately opened an account where she kept money from the business. She noticed that when she didn’t have an account for her business she ended up spending all the money that came in.

Marry right

One thing Modupe never fails to mention is the role her husband played in supporting her. It doesn’t have to be money wise but he listened to her ideas, he was her go to counselor, planner…There would have been No Left Over Nigeria plc if she had married the wrong man.

Believe in yourself and face your fears

Modupe was a failure in school, she had low self-esteem and felt she would amount to nothing until she changed her mindset. The timid girl of yesterday is now a woman who speaks to Presidents and dignitaries.

Here is a short video clip of Michelle Obama endorsing No Left Over Nigeria Plc at the United State of Women Conference

Be Inspired!

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