Azeez Olayide, a Nigerian food vendor, has shared how he and his business partner left their jobs to launch a thriving jollof rice business in the United Kingdom.
In an interview on My Tasty Naija, Olayide recounted the origins of their venture, 2 Nigerian Boys, which began in February 2019 at Spitalfields Market in London’s Financial District.
“The story was just about two Nigerian friends who loved Nigerian foods so much,” Olayide explained. “One of them just said, ‘Let’s go to the city and bring jollof rice.’”
The duo’s first day in business was an eye-opener—they sold out within 30 minutes. This immediate success convinced them to quit their jobs and focus on sharing the flavors of Nigerian cuisine.
“Both of us were amazed and looked at each other in the face and said, ‘We need to quit our jobs and start selling Nigerian foods,’” Olayide recalled.
Their decision proved worthwhile, with the business gaining widespread acceptance. Interestingly, 90% of their customers are non-Africans who, Olayide noted, “love the beef when they eat it.”
The business operates during lunchtime, from 12 PM to 2 PM, and draws crowds with the aroma of freshly cooked food, as everything is prepared on-site.
Their growing success has even led to the opening of a second branch in Bristol, following customer feedback in London.
Olayide praised his business partner, whom he described as a “magician” behind the magic of their jollof rice. He concluded, “You can’t see the person performing the magic. The second Nigerian boy is a magician who makes the Nigerian Boys come together for a business.”