Share your story with us
Hey there, my name is Mmachukwu Orizu, I am a medical biochemist, an infant and young child feeding counselor certified by UNICEF, a child nutrition advisor certified by UK-CPD, and a baby food entrepreneur. People often refer to me as “The Mumtritionist” because I am not just a nutritionist but also a mom who understands the challenges that come with feeding infants and young children. I obtained my undergraduate degree in Basic Medical Sciences from the University of Benin and my other professional/certificate degrees in nutrition from Shaw Academy in Dublin, Ireland. Before I founded Somma’s Yummies Ltd, I worked as a clinical biochemist in a hospital laboratory.
During this time, I noticed that many of the patients who came to the hospital could have easily resolved their conditions through better nutrition. Unfortunately, some of the cases couldn’t be managed, and I saw many preventable deaths, which broke my heart, especially when I saw mothers lose their children. I realized that I needed to find a career that could help prevent nutritionally-preventable diseases, especially among women and children. The turning point for me came in 2015 when I had my daughter.
Your JAMII Femmes adventure
My journey within the Jamii Femme program has been a transformative experience. Before joining the program, I had high expectations of gaining new skills and knowledge, connecting with like-minded individuals, and becoming empowered to scale my business. One of my biggest successes in the program was learning how to manage a team and carry out critical thinking. I also gained valuable insights into handling my emotions, financial management, and customer relations. The support and guidance from the social platform and fellow participants have been invaluable in helping me to grow and refine my business.
However, the journey has not been without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges for me was finding the time to balance my work, personal life, and program requirements. The workload was sometimes overwhelming, and I had to make sacrifices to stay on track. Another challenge was dealing with setbacks and failures. Starting a business is not easy, and I faced many obstacles and setbacks along the way. However, the program taught me resilience and perseverance, and how to pivot and adapt when things didn’t go according to plan. Overall, my journey within the JAMII Femmes program has been an incredible learning experience that has empowered me to pursue my dreams and create my business.
Finally, please give us a quote about your motivation, your vision of Africa or your personal ambitions
“I am going to give African children access to high-energy nutritious African foods, made with love by an African Mum.”
My passion is to improve the nutritional value of Nigerian children’s meals and reducing child mortality in Africa. My ambition is to create locally-made, preservative-free, and nutritionally-balanced baby foods that incorporate Africa’s most nutritious ingredients, and to educate parents on the importance of infant and young child feeding. I am influenced by the dilemma faced by African mothers and children and the opportunities surrounding their solutions.
My interest is to give children access to High Energy Nutritious Foods and beverages made from 100% locally-sourced staples, free of artificial additives and preservatives. I will keep providing African children with good African foods made with love by an African mother.
“With the right nutrition, every child in Africa can thrive and reach their full potential.”