Pride Magazine Nigeria Interviews The Pancake Boy

Pride Magazine Nigeria: What inspired your passion for pancakes?

The Pancake Boy: My love for pancakes actually began when my elder sister and I paid a visit to a family friend’s house where we were invited to spend some time. On that fateful day, we were served pancakes and some cool drinks. I fell in love with the taste of the handmade pancakes and insisted on learning how to make it to try it out occasionally at home.

We were given the recipes and that’s how I learnt how to make pancakes and then taught my mum how to make it too. Together, we creatively improved on the recipe that was given to us to make it more delicious.

I was later trained by a professional, @chefnylah, who offered to train me without any charge. It was a great encouragement for me and without her input, I wouldn’t have been able to make great and delicious pancakes customers enjoy!

PMN: When you tried several times to perfect your pancake making skills, were you ever discouraged and how did you deal with the feeling?

TPB: Many times I failed while learning how to make my pancakes. There were times I wasted flour, sugar, eggs and milk; I didn’t know how to measure it. So, I was always getting different taste and texture, but because of my love for pancakes, I didn’t mind trying again and again, hoping to get it right the next time.

One day, my brother returned home hungry and asked if I can make him pancake to eat. I looked around the kitchen; there was some flour left and sugar. But there wasn’t any milk and egg. So my brother gave me money to quickly buy eggs and milk. When I came back, I decided to try it one more time. This time it was so tasty that I was happy I had improved after many failed attempts.

PMN: Were your family members initially supportive? If no, how did you deal with the lack of support?

TPB: I got most of my support from my family. They always love me and want the best for me.

They only told me not to waste flour and eggs making pancakes that will end up burnt or not too sweet. That was when I was still perfecting my pancake skills. But aside from that, I would not have learned pancake-making without their support and encouragement. I am grateful they encouraged me and still are.

PMN: You seem to be very resilient, how did you develop this character?

TPB: My mum always tells us every day to work hard and never to give up too easily. I have also learnt from my siblings that it pays to be strong and hardworking. Whenever I am asked to help with the house chores, whether it’s to clean the house or do the dishes, I sometimes get discouraged by the size of the work and complain and cry, but my parents always tell me that being able to take up tasks and do what I ought to do is a great sign of responsibility.

They always strengthen me when I feel overwhelmed with the day’s work and later with their help I will get back to my feet and do what I ought to do in the family. Completing these daily tasks gives me a sense of responsibility.

PMN: Who would you say is your mentor?

TPB: My mentor has been my big brother. He is always there for me to teach me and give me the environment I need to grow. He takes me to seminars, church and trainings. He has bought lots of books for me and always encourages me to read and grow. He got me the first book I ever read — Think Big by Ben Carson. I really love reading about Dr. Ben Carson and seeing his movie “Gifted Hands”. I got inspired as well to be a children doctor (paediatrician) from that movie.

Also, I love Dr. Farrar Gray who wrote the book, Reallionaire, which helped me to conquer my fear in business after reading his story of how he made his first million at age 14. I was really inspired by that book and I am glad I was made to read it.

Also, I deeply look up to Mr. Pamilerin Adegoke (Dr. Pam Pam), Chef Nylah, Chef Olamii, and Tony Elumelu they have been a source of great encouragement to me and I deeply love and appreciate them. These persons have really inspired me to stay focused on my academics and in my business.

PMN: What would you say has been your biggest inspiration?

TPB: Starting my business, meeting the great people I met and going to those beautiful places I went to in the cause of my deliveries left a big impression in my heart and began to make me think big about myself and my life.

My biggest inspiration now is to keep adding value to my life, customers and the people around me and also have lots of fun along the way. I will love to see the smile on people’s face whenever I go out for delivery. I really want to be me and learn and grow to become a better person so I can make a positive mark in life and business.

PMN: So far as a young and budding entrepreneur, what has been your biggest challenge?

TPB: Being a kid entrepreneur has revealed my strengths and exposed the areas I need to work on. From having to make calls, learning calls etiquette – as my sister has been teaching me, to starting up a conversation with a customer or a friend to negotiation and lots more.

However, I think my biggest challenge so far as been being able to communicate my ideas fluently and more boldly to a customer; relating and talking with my customers the first time I meet them has been my biggest challenge.

But, I have been doing my best to improve by becoming bolder and learning how to relate with people with the help of my family. Just recently, I had to take part in a public speaking training class so I can learn how to communicate well.

PMN: Beyond pancake, how far do you see your entrepreneur journey?

TPB: Beyond pancakes, I want to become a very successful entrepreneur as the likes of Tony Elumelu. I want to create and add value enough to make young people wealthy. I want to be a business leader that will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to take risks and start building their business early enough in life. I want to contribute to the development of our economy and to make life easier for people to buy my products and services.

PMN: How do you manage this and your education?

TPB: Danicious Pancakes started during the summer last year and at the time, I had lots of time to do business and go out for delivery and not worry much about school.

When school resumed I knew I needed help in terms of taking orders and delivering to my customers.

I had to rely on the help of my family – my elder brothers and my sisters who gave all their support and are still giving their support, while I focus on school work. I only get the opportunity to do deliveries on Saturday and Sundays. While my siblings help out during the week. That way, I do not need to worry much about how to combine my school and my business.

PMN: Do you believe more Nigerians need to embrace entrepreneurship?

TPB: When I attended the seminar that inspired my faith to start my business, they talked a lot about starting and running a business as a key to adding value to the lives of people around us by providing goods and services that will help others. And that’s why I decided to start my business so I can add value with what I love in the little way I can. I think people especially kids and teenagers need to start up business early enough and add more value to those around them.

PMN: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

TPB: I see myself speaking and inspiring a large crowd of teenagers and adults. I want to be able to share my story to inspire hope in the hearts of people.

I see myself writing a book about my entrepreneurship journey and selling over 1 million copies of my books

I see myself partnering with large organizations and companies to do business and organize projects, training and events.

I see myself working with young people from the slums and empowering them in terms of education and skill development.

I see myself on notable media like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and CNN discussing entrepreneurship and solving global problems.