As a participant in the University of Utah’s Master of Business Creation (MBC) Global program, Oluwatobiloba Akinrimisi is using her background and personal experiences to build Fave Bhite Foods, a healthy local snack brand rooted in Nigerian tradition.
Growing up, sweets and processed foods surrounded Akinrimisi, but her grandmother often warned her about the dangers of excessive sugar and overly processed snacks. “As a child, I was always eating sweets, and my grandma would tell me how bad processed foods were, especially with all the sugar,” she said. Those early lessons later inspired her mission to create nutritious, affordable Nigerian snacks made with care and intention.
The idea for Fave Bhite Foods did not begin as a formal business plan. Akinrimisi started by making kulikuli, a peanut-based snack common in Nigeria, using her grandmother’s recipe. At the time, it was simply a way to reduce food waste and enjoy something familiar. “I was just using my grandma’s recipe and wasn’t thinking about business at all,” she said. “But so many people kept asking for more that I decided to turn it into a brand.”
Today, Fave Bhite Foods focuses on creating healthier, hygienically produced versions of traditional Nigerian snacks. The goal is not just to sell food, but to change how people perceive local snacks. Akinrimisi wants them to be seen as comfort food — something people actively seek out for both taste and quality. “Even if it looks like something people have seen before, I want them to taste it and really understand what Nigerian snacks are about,” she explained.
The brand aims to provide an alternative to highly processed snack options by using natural ingredients and improved processing methods. While the snacks are affordable and accessible, quality control and cleanliness remain central to the company’s value proposition. Beyond food production, Akinrimisi also draws on her work through WeAssist Virtual, a solution-based IT and business services company she founded. The company provides digital solutions such as website development, systems support, and business process optimization, helping streamline operations and enabling her to focus on scaling Fave Bhite Foods and refining its products.
One of the biggest milestones for Fave Bhite Foods came early on when Akinrimisi took a leap of faith. After recognizing an opportunity within her church community, she invested $1,000 to get the business started and committed her remaining resources to making it work. “It just kind of happened,” she said. “But the support I received made me realize this could actually work.” That early encouragement reinforced her confidence and validated the demand for healthier local snacks.
Looking ahead, Akinrimisi hopes to expand Fave Bhite Foods into international markets. With encouragement from the MBC program, she has begun to see the brand as something that can reach far beyond its original audience. “MBC really pushed me to think bigger,” she said. “I want this to reach an international market and give people a new perspective on Nigerian food.”
By combining tradition, health-conscious choices, and community impact, Fave Bhite Foods is positioning itself as more than just a snack brand. It serves as a bridge between cultural heritage and modern food standards, demonstrating that local snacks can be both meaningful and scalable.
Learn more about Fave Bhite Foods by visiting their website at weassistvirtual.com.
